Melanie is an assistant professor of journalism at the Gaylord College and director of Oklahoma Scholastic Media. She is a Gaylord College alumna with a B.A. and M.A. in journalism. She has worked in newspapers as both a reporter and designer and began teaching as an adjunct in 2004 for the Gaylord College as well as Oklahoma City Community College and Oklahoma State University. In 2005 she was hired as an instructor of mass communication and adviser to the student newspaper at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. She was honored with the John Sheffield Teacher of the Year award there in 2009, and was also honored state-wide in 2012 as the SPJ Oklahoma Chapter Teacher of the Year.
